Another common hormonal condition is Cushing's syndrome but this normally causes excessive weight gain and other symptoms which you do not seem to have from the information that you have given me.

Many women with hair problems often have no detectable cause and in those cases it's best just to try to manage the excessive growth.

For women who need contraception, or who don't mind taking medication, the contraceptive pill can often help lessen the problem.

It works because it contains a balance of two types of female hormones, oestrogen and progesterone and therefore overrides any minor problems with your body's own hormones.

It would be worth talking to your own GP about this option.

If you prefer not to have medication, then there are some very practical approaches.

Although you have said that you have tried several methods, you do not mention whether you have used electrolysis, sugaring or waxing.

These are often successful at weakening the hair growth when used over a period of time.

Sugaring and waxing use a similar technique of removing the hair at its root, so delaying the appearance of stubble on the skin for 3-6 weeks. Although not completely painless, a good practitioner can certainly make the whole procedure bearable.

Electrolysis uses a small electric current at the root of the hair follicle to damage the growth area and so is often said to be permanent although some patients find this is not always so. Unfortunately it is usually not available on the NHS so you will need to go to a private centre to have this treatment.

The main thing is not to let this let this problem affect your life – you'd be surprised how common it is and it really is just a matter of finding a way of dealing with it so that you rule it and it doesn't rule you!

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